“While gospel is our specialty, we love to explore related repertoire. Soul – which is derived from gospel – merges religious and secular sensibilities, and sees audiences grooving with fervent call & response, improvisation, and uplifting vocals,” says Gail Suderman, Artistic Director, Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir. “This sensual music made famous by such icons as Aretha Franklin, Al Green, and Ray Charles inspires intense feeling. Time and again we see soul make a comeback, and incredible musicians like our guest artist, Dawn Pemberton, are part of the revival.”

Hailed as “the new queen of Canadian soul” by Pop Forecast, Pemberton’s star is rising thanks to her debut solo album, Say Somethin. The record has been praised by critics across the country – described as “sumptuous”, “funky”, and “well refined”. In 2015 it
won the Western Canadian Music Award for Urban Album of the Year.

As a staple of the West Coast music scene, Pemberton often lends her voice to local lauded bands, lighting up Vancouver venues with her vivacity and charm. In addition to her own performance career, she helms the Roots ‘N Wings women’s choir, conducts
workshops & private classes, and has served as instructor to youth at the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. An in-demand collaborator, Pemberton has shared the stage with illustrious stars including Maceo Parker, John Lee Sanders, and Dutch Robinson, and recently toured with celebrated blues duo, The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer.

At SOUL GOSPEL, Pemberton will be heard alone and alongside Good Noise and the Ad Libitum Concert vocalists of the White Rock Children’s Choir (WRCC). Nearing its 20th anniversary, WRCC is known for emotionally charged and colourful performances. The Ad Libitum Concert Choir, ranging in age from 11 to 17, have sung for Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, toured as far as South Africa, Italy, and Mexico, and been invited to such prestigious venues as St. Peter’s Basilica, Canterbury Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall. The exuberant ensemble will perform in SOUL GOSPEL as part of the second annual Good Noise VIP Young Artist program, a youth initiative to foster gospel music education & appreciation throughout the Lower Mainland.

Good Noise audiences will undoubtedly sway and swoon to a program of glorious gospel and soothing soul. The song list includes Have a Talk with God from Stevie Wonder’s landmark album, Songs in the Key of Life, the GRAMMY Award-winning single Ain’t No Need to Worry by Anita Baker and the Winans, the gospel-inspired cross-over hit, I Believe in You by Bob Dylan, and a stunning new arrangement of Thomas A. Dorsey’s The Lord Will Make a Way.

ABOUT GOOD NOISE VANCOUVER GOSPEL CHOIR (goodnoisevgc.com):

Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir (GNVGC) was founded by Artistic Director, Gail Suderman, in 2004. Over the years, the choir has been invited to perform alongside acclaimed artists such as Barbra Streisand, Holly Cole, David Foster, Josh Groban, Jim Byrnes, Dee Daniels, and more. The choir is renowned for its upbeat and inspiring annual concert season – garnering many sold out performances. In addition, they have recorded two successful CDs – both of which have been nominated for Covenant Awards (Canadian Gospel Music Awards). GNVGC has also appeared on numerous high-profile television shows on CBC, Bravo, Knowledge Network, Global TV, and most recently in a nationally-televised concert on Vision TV.

Photo Credit: GNVGC

The 90-voice GNVGC has a membership that includes singers from across the Lower Mainland, from the North Shore to Abbotsford and every town in between. Members of the choir come from a diversity of faith traditions (or none at all) sharing a common love of singing gospel and popular music. GNVGC is currently choir-in-residence at one of downtown Vancouver’s finest historic venues, Christ Church Cathedral.